Biographic: The Joker

On what would have been Heath Ledger's 47th birthday, a look at the origins of The Joker and the actors who have portrayed the character onscreen.

Born in Perth, Australia, on April 4, 1979, Heath Ledger was only 28 years old when he died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in 2008. A few months later, “The Dark Knight” became his first posthumous release. His memorable portrayal of The Joker in that movie earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In my syndicated “Biographic” newspaper series, I took a look at the origins of The Joker in comic books and the actors who have portrayed the character onscreen.